Recycling rules for Babergh
Based on Babergh published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Babergh.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Babergh
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Babergh's recycling bin
Cardboard: Goes in your paper & card bin
Food waste: Babergh has a separate food waste collection
Takes bread, cakes and pastries, coffee grounds, eggshells and more.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Clothes: Not accepted in Babergh's recycling bin
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Your bins in Babergh, by colour
Container colours as published by Babergh. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Black bin
Refuse (general rubbish)
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Only put the following items in the blue or blue-lidded recycling bin::
- Bubble wrap
- Carrier bags
- Chocolate tubs
- Cling film
- Bathroom and cleaning product containers
- Film covers/lids
- Food bags
- Food pots, tubs, trays and punnets
- Shipping bags
- Wrappers that don't have a foil lining
- Wrapping film
- Aerosol cans
- Aluminium/tin foil
- Biscuit tins
- Blister packs (pills/medicine) where the entire pack is made from aluminium foil
- Drink cans
- Foil trays
- Food tins
- Tubes · e.g. tomato puree
- Drink cartons
- Milk cartons
- Sauce cartons
- Soup cartons
Not accepted
Never put the following items in the blue or blue-lidded recycling bin::
- Batteries
- Card
- Paper
- Crisp packets
- Coffee pods
- Compostable packaging
- Electrical items
- Clothes and shoes
- Food and drink pouches
- Pet food pouches
- Glassware/Pyrex
- Hard plastics
- Items smaller than 5cm
- Nappies
- Polystyrene
- Toothpaste tubes
- Vapes/e-cigarettes
- Wrappers with foil lining
- Wipes
- Plastic storage containers
Food Waste
Accepted
Only put the following items in the grey food waste bin::
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Meat and fish, including bones
- Tea bags
- Pasta and rice
Not accepted
Never put the following items in the grey food waste bin::
- Liquids
- Milk
- Packaging
Garden Waste
Accepted
Only put the following items in the brown garden waste bin::
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings
- Leaves
- Dead plants
- Small branches and twigs · No thicker than 7cm
Not accepted
Never put the following items in the brown garden waste bin::
- Food
- Soil
- Turf
Paper & Card
Accepted
Only put the following items in the green-lidded paper and card bin::
- Books
- Envelopes · the transparent/plastic window can be left attached
- Leaflets and junk mail
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Receipts
- Wrapping paper · apart from glittery or foil types
- Cardboard boxes
- Cereal boxes
- Egg boxes
- Toilet and kitchen roll tubes
Not accepted
Never put the following items in the green-lidded paper and card bin::
- Cartons/Tetra Pak
- Baking/greaseproof paper
- Laminated paper
- Photographs
- Wipes
When are bins collected in Babergh?
This page covers what goes in each bin. Collection days are set by the council and vary by street. See how to find your bin collection day, or browse streets by postcode to see schedules your neighbours have added.
Check with the council over bank holidays. See the council’s page →
In Babergh’s own words: “Refuse, recycling, and paper and card, is collected on a three-weekly schedule. Food waste is collected weekly.”
No streets in Babergh on BinBosh yet — be the first to add yours, and your neighbours can adopt it instead of setting up their own.
Frequently asked questions
What bin does polystyrene go in Babergh?
In Babergh, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does cardboard go in Babergh?
In Babergh, cardboard boxes go in your paper & card bin.
What bin does food waste go in Babergh?
In Babergh, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes bread, cakes and pastries, coffee grounds, eggshells and more.
What goes in the recycling bin in Babergh?
Babergh's recycling bin accepts bubble wrap, carrier bags, chocolate tubs, cling film, bathroom and cleaning product containers, film covers/lids, and more.
What goes in the food waste bin in Babergh?
Babergh's food waste bin accepts bread, cakes and pastries, coffee grounds, eggshells, meat and fish, including bones, tea bags, pasta and rice, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Babergh?
Babergh's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, leaves, dead plants, small branches and twigs, and more. No thicker than 7cm.
What goes in the paper & card bin in Babergh?
Babergh's paper & card bin accepts books, envelopes, leaflets and junk mail, magazines, newspapers, receipts, and more. the transparent/plastic window can be left attached.
What can't be recycled in Babergh?
Items not accepted in Babergh: batteries, card, paper, crisp packets.
Helpful guides
Source: Babergh council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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